ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH, Evansville’s first English-speaking church, was established in 1905 to serve the rapidly growing population of Evansville’s northeastern section. Initially designated as the first English-speaking parish in the city, Saint Joseph was formed from areas previously part of Saint Anthony, Saint Mary, and Assumption parishes. It stands as the first new parish of the 20th century in Evansville.
The inaugural Mass was held in a former grocery store located at 519 North Main Street. The diocese owned nearby property that had been used as a cemetery, and a portion of this land became the parish’s site. In 1906, under the guidance of Father Patrick Rowan, construction commenced on the Church/School building and the rectory/convent, initially the home of Father P. H. Rowan. The following year, 1907, the Benedictine Sisters of Ferdinand began a 79-year teaching partnership with Saint Joseph Parish.
In 1915, an addition to the Church/School transformed it into a “double-decker.” The Church space was relocated to the top floor, while classrooms were situated on the main floor and lower level. On May 20, 1923, the cornerstone of the “new” Saint Joseph Church was laid. Construction commenced in 1923 and concluded in 1924. The church’s neo-Romanesque architecture, characterized by its rounded arches and stately limestone columns, stands as a distinctive feature of the churches in the city of Evansville. Francis Joseph Reitz played a pivotal role in acquiring the exquisite marble sanctuary furnishings for the new Church building. Italian artisans meticulously installed all the marble pieces and the mosaic depicting the “Death of Joseph” in the baldachin. On August 9, 1924, the altar was dedicated by Bishop Emmanuel B. Ledvina of Corpus Christi, Texas. Subsequently, on August 10, 1924, the Church building was officially dedicated by Bishop Chartrand.
In 1944, the Diocese of Evansville was established, led by Bishop Henry J. Grimmelsman. In 1947, a significant portion of the northern section of the parish was designated for the creation of the new parish of Saint Theresa. In 1954, the new school, equipped with 14 classrooms, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria, was completed and dedicated. During this time, Magdalen Hildenbrand, the first laywoman teacher in the Catholic elementary schools in Evansville, was appointed to the school’s faculty.
Between 1953 and 1963, the church underwent extensive remodeling.
Following the sale of the Assumption Cathedral in 1963, the church acquired a portion of its pipe organ and the grand marble statue of St. Joseph.
In 1968, to align with the new liturgical directives from Vatican II, the front platform in the sanctuary was extended, and a new granite front altar was erected. In 1981, the interior of the church underwent a repainting, the installation of new carpeting and cry rooms, and the cleaning of the marble. During this renovation, the small baldachin (the small marble canopy over the tabernacle) was accidentally knocked off its base, crashing through the floor and creating a hole approximately 3 feet in diameter. Fortunately, The Marble Shop of Knoxville, Tennessee, sent a representative to inspect the damage. On his subsequent trip to Italy, the representative took with him a picture and the design of the baldachin. Fourteen months later, the high altar, including its baldachin, was restored to its former glory.
Enrollment in the school was declining, and costs were escalating. Consequently, the decision was made to close St. Joseph School. In the fall of 1987, St. Joseph School merged with St. Anthony School, resulting in the establishment of Ascension School which closed after a short time.